Princeton woman found dead near trail

PRINCETON, Maine — Maine State Police say that a woman’s death in the woods near a Princeton snowmobile trail does not appear to be suspicious.

Donna Levi Bennett, 61, of Baileyville, was found dead on Wednesday, Feb. 23, one day after she was reported missing. According to the Maine State Police, Bennett’s boyfriend called police and said she had been missing for a week. He reportedly told police that she often walked the snowmobile trail between Princeton and Baileyville and he was afraid she had fallen.

Lt. Christopher Coleman of Troop J, the Maine State Police division that serves Washington and Hancock counties, said Tuesday that Detective Micah Perkins of the Criminal Investigation Division assisted Troop J with the investigation. The lieutenant said it appeared that Bennett’s death was likely due to exposure.

“We will know definitively after we receive an official report from the medical examiner’s office,” Coleman said.

The investigation was spearheaded by Trooper Kimberly Sawyer. She was assisted by Game Wardens Jason Scott and Alan Curtis who conducted the search.